Juneteenth

The Museum's Founding Director, Lonnie Bunch III, leads a tour through their Slavery and Freedom exhibition to celebrate #Juneteenth, highlighting stories behind some of our most popular objects, including Nat Turner's bible, freedom papers of free African Americans, and a Sibley tent that housed African Americans who ran from Southern plantations in search of freedom with the Union army.

The historical legacy of Juneteenth shows the value of never giving up hope in uncertain times. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a community space where this spirit of hope lives on. As such, this page includes links to a Juneteenth Reading List, Children & Youth Resources, and a Social Media Toolkit.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture's Juneteenth Portal includes informative videos and information on the museum's Juneteenth programming, along with traditional Juneteenth recipes and songs.

Includes a link to remarks by President Biden at the signing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the nation approached its third year of bloody civil war. The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." This link has digital images of the original Emancipation Proclamation in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

JUNETEENTH.com's mission is to inspire and support individuals, organizations, and corporations in the hosting of Juneteenth celebrations. The JUNETEENTH.com website serves as an educational and motivational resource for all, and includes information, activities, and supplies for learning about and celebrating Juneteenth.

In 2022, Governor Spencer J. Cox signed a law to make Juneteenth National Freedom Day a state holiday, a day commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. This was made possible by Rep. Sandra Hollins, Utah’s first Black female legislator, who sponsored the bill to make this a reality. The Division of Multicultural Affairs collected information about Juneteenth events and celebrations in Utah for 2022.